Sun Shines on North Queensland Retail Centre
October 30, 2019
Chris Herde and Phil Bartsch | Courier Mail
Sentinel Property Group has done some number crunching after completing the largest accredited roof mounted solar systems in North Queensland with a $2 million renewable energy upgrade at its DFO Cairns retail centre.
The upgrade involved the installation of more than 3000 solar panels at the complex in suburban Westcourt.
Sentinel managing director Warren Ebert said DFO now has the second largest accredited solar power system in a shopping centre in North Queensland, the fifth biggest roof mounted system in the state and 14th largest nationwide.
“The system will halve the complex’s daily power usage of the centre will produce 5.2 megawatts per day which will equate to 2.86 tonnes of saving in carbon dioxide per day,” he said.
Ebert said Sentinel was investing heavily in renewable energy and plans to adopt solar power systems across much of its property portfolio.
“Solar is one of the cleanest sources of energy and we will be able to run our DFO retail complex in a more efficient and sustainable manner while providing clean energy to DFO Cairns and its retailers,” he said.
“By reducing greenhouse gases, improving air quality and conserving our water supply, solar energy assists in the reduction of our reliance on fossil fuels and will lower energy prices for years to come.”
The DFO’s solar system installation by GEM Energy consists of 3,257 panels covering a roof area of 15,000sq m. About 8km of railing was needed to hold the solar panels and contain 8.5km of electrical cabling.
Established in 2010, Brisbane-based Sentinel has a total national portfolio of more than 50 retail, industrial, office, land, tourism infrastructure and agribusiness assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory with a total value in excess of $1.2 billion.